Embattled Phra Dhammajayo has been relieved of duty and responsibility as the abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, and appointed the honorary abbot of the temple instead.
The removal of the abbot, wanted on charges of forest encroachment, money-laundering and receiving stolen goods, was announced by Phanom Sornsilp, director of the National Office of Buddhism.
Mr Phanom said Phra Thep Rattanasuthee, abbot of Wat Khian Khet, in his capacity as Pathum Thani chief monk, exercised his monastic authority and issued an order dated Dec 5 relieving Phra Dhammajayo of duty as the abbot of the temple on grounds of prolonged illness.
Phra Dhammajayo, aka Phra Thep Yarnmahamunee, 72, had been abbot since 1977 and was suffering from deep vein thrombosis as a result of diabetes and allergies, and should be relieved of the burden so he could receive medical treatment, the provincial chief monk said.
Under Section 39 of the Sangha Act, he appointed Phra Dhammajayo as honorary abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya. With this honorary position, Phra Dhammajayo was just a senior monk, not the ruling clergyman at the temple, said Mr Phanom.
Phra Khru Wichit Arpakorn, chief monk of tambon Khlong Si, had appointed Phra Withet Pawanajarn as the acting abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya.
Phra Withet Panawajarn, 65, was assistant abbot. He would take over as acting abbot immediately, Mr Phanom said.
The removal of Phra Dhammajayo from the position of abbot would reduce the impact on the temple of the criminal cases against him. The temple could carry out religious activities as normal, the director of the National Office of Buddhism said.
Legal procedures regarding the cases against the senior monk would be the responsibility of the relevant agencies, he added.
Phra Dhammajayo is wanted under arrest warrants for alleged forest encroachment by the temple's meditation centres in Loei and Naklhon Ratchasima provinces, and for alleged laundering of money and receiving stolen property involving hundreds of millions of baht embezzled from the Klongchan Credit Union Cooperative by the co-op's former chairman.
Earlier this week, Khlong Luang district police summonsed Phra Sutham Suthammo, as acting abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, to report for questioning on Dec 13 for providing shelter for Phra Dhammajayo.
On Dec 3, investigators handling the forest encroachment asked Khlong Luang policed to pursue Phra Thattacheevo, as acting abbot of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, for giving shelter to the embattled monk.
Investigators had previously explained it was not clear which senior monk at the temple was actually acting abbot during Phra Dhammajayo's reported illness, which has been cited repeatedly as grounds for not reporting to police to hear charges against him.
